very depressing news indeed. well played by the council, though, i mean how could they resist a personal appeal from the chief executive. I don't reckon the esteemed edinburgh council could be swayed by money - i suspect someone woke up with a horse head in their bed.

Published Date: 18 September 2008 By FAY WINTERTHIEVES stole a £3000 bath and tools and equipment worth £17,000 during a raid on a £10 million hotel development in the Capital. Showers, radiators and brass piping were also taken during the break-in at Hotel du Vin, which is being built on Forrest Road.

The incident is the latest in a series of metal thefts across the city, which have seen everything from drain covers to propellers for the Royal Yacht Britannia stolen.

A Hotel du Vin spokesman said: "A number of items were stolen from the site. One of the items stolen was an extremely heavy steel bath, which would have required four people to carry.

"It was obviously a very well organised theft. But it hasn't deterred our enthusiasm for developing the site. We are very confident we will be open and operating before Christmas."

He added that security had now been stepped up at the site of the five-star hotel development.

The theft took place between 3pm on Sunday, August 17 and 7.30am the following morning. One theory is that the thieves wore high-visibility jackets so as not to arouse suspicion from passers-by.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said officers were investigating.

Organised gangs have targeted building sites and industrial yards in recent months, looking to cash in on the soaring price of metals fuelled by a building boom in China and India. At least 140 manhole covers have been stolen across in the Lothians.

Unoccupied new homes have also been a target, with new apartments on Lochend Road hit twice in the space of a month by thieves.

There has also been an increase in the number of crimes on the railways, leading the British Transport Police to set up a special squad to combat the problem.

The Hotel du Vin, which is due to open on December 5, will feature 47 bedrooms and suites.

Shortly after construction began last year, the hotel was refused permission to serve alcohol, but the decision was overturned in January.

This place needs less bloody hotels not more and to do that to a beautiful building is in my mind, insulting to the people of Edinburgh. I truely believe Edinburgh Council don't give two hoots about losing the World Heritage Status as long as it's more money coming in. They are short sighted as the more we drift away from having amazing architecture the less people are going to want to come here, thus hotels will shut down and the council will lose money...but only after they destroyed the place first.

World Heritage Status is irrelevant to some people but keeping it means we are looking after our city in my opinion and the beauty of Edinburgh never bores me, I'm not looking forward to the day we look like every other city...cold, emotionless, characterless and boring. If i'd wanted that I'd have moved to Milton Keynes.

Has the hotel really closed, or is it just that the parent company is in trouble? Where am I going to get a serious shower now, or enjoy Egyptian cotton sheets and gold bath taps? Bring back the Blood Transfusion Service, to give Bristo Place a shot in the arm.